Wildfires Still Burning & Ag Secretary Visit
Wildfires Still Burning & Ag Secretary Visit. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will join Congresswoman Suzan DelBene for a Fireside Chat at Washington State University's Mount Vernon Research Center to discuss Farm Bill implementation, national nutrition standards, and the role agricultural exports play in the rural economy. The Fireside Chat takes place this afternoon at 4:30.
The fire season is not over yet. A wildfire that destroyed three homes near Grimes Creek in Boise County in Idaho expanded but has been pushing away from neighborhoods and homes, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. Over the weekend, dozens of homes had been evacuated and evacuation orders remain in effect for some areas. Investigators say they believe the Walker fire is human-caused, and may have been sparked by people camping in the area.
Speaking of wildfires, a recent Congressional hearing on growing wildfire activities offered suggestions how to increase fire suppression and prevention efforts. Christopher Topik of The Nature Conservancy says we need to continue the research into innovative firefighting approaches.
TOPIK: I believe that working together we can turn around the current negative fire trends that put our communities, our infrastructure, lifelines, our clean water, our wildlife and out great outdoors all at risk.
That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.